Timeline of historical events

1. Publication of Communist Manifesto - 1848

1.1. Orwell grew to support his ideas and identified as having socialist leanings

1.2. However did not support many modern day applications of the Marx's ideologies

2. The Russion revolution (1917)

2.1. Rise in communist and socialist ideaologies

2.2. Widespread control of public thought and perception

3. Joined the Imperial Police - 1922

3.1. Gave up the role after observing class distinctions and civil unrest caused by British Imperialism

4. Stalinist Russia- USSR (1927-1953)

4.1. Stalinism- one of the largest contexual influences

4.2. rule is described as "totalitarian"- he did not allow alternative political parties to develop

4.3. perpetuated through violence and brutality- propaganda and media

4.4. Whilst socialist, Orwell believed that Stalin was a corrupt leader and wrote criticising his leadership

5. Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

5.1. The spanish civil war had a significant impact on George Orwell before writing "1984". The spanish civil war saw the overthrowing of the democratically elected government, resulting in mass death and destruction.

5.1.1. The anarchist nature of the event in favour of a conservative government appeared as dystopian to Orwell

6. WWII (1939-1945)

6.1. 1933- political parties are banned in Germany (only Nazi party)

6.2. 1934- sets up Nazi People's courts where judges sign an oath of loyalty

6.3. 1934- law declared Hitler Youth to be the only legally permitted youth organisation in Germany

6.4. 1935- Francisco Franco (Spain) became chief of the Central General Staff of the Spanish army

6.5. 1938- signed Manifesto of Race, stripped Jewish community of citizenship, jobs, intermarriage forbidden

6.6. 1939- signs "pact of steel" with Germany as allies for WWII

6.7. 1945- America B-29 bomber dropped on Hiroshima (first ever atomic bomb): explosion wiped 90% of the city - three days later another bomb dropped on Nagasaki

7. 1949- Nighteen Eighty Four published by George Orwell: last work written shorty before his death in 1950